Convenient Height Control of A’van Stabiliser LegsTwenty-two years later, and being reminded about this requirement each time we relocated the A’van, bodily limbs were not quite as flexible as before. It was finally time to do something about it. Others in the A’van community obviously had the same problem, and had come up with various solutions to extend the leg control spigots to where they would be more easily accessible. My solution was to purchase four sufficiently long galvanised hexagonal head bolts, six hex nuts to fit the bolts, eight nylock hex nuts to fit the bolts, and four chrome sockets to fit the van spigots (19mm across flats to suit our A’van). If suitable sized nylock nuts could not be found, I could have instead used standard nuts and a thread locker such as Loctite. Each bolt needed to be 12mm diameter to fit sockets having a ½ inch square drive recess, be around 200mm long (for our 1999 Sportliner), and have a hex head. The required length might need to be different for other A’vans. I found, at Bunnings, suitable bolts being 200mm long, have a 12mm diameter with 1.75mm thread pitch, and an 18mm across flats hex head. The photograph below shows how the “½ inch square drive” socket is positively locked to the bolt. The “½ nut” shown at the right-hand end of the bolt was achieved by sawing a full nut in half. (If a full nut had been used at this location, the socket would not fit so securely over the leg spigot). The socket is slipped over the bolt end and the bolt screwed flush into the half nut. The full nut is then screwed down tightly against the socket. To ensure the socket does not screw loose over time, a 3mm hole was drilled through the socket and bolt, followed by a 3mm dia pin glued into the hole. Extension Bolt showing "Socket" fixing detail The photograph below shows the completed extension assembly fitted in place on the underside chassis of the A’van. As can be seen, the bolt thread has been extended from the existing short thread up to near the head of the bolt. This was achieved using a thread cutting stock fitted with a 12mm diameter by 1.75mm thread pitch die. This was necessary as the support bracket needed to be secured to the bolt (by the two nylock nuts) whilst still allowing the bolt to turn to raise and lower the stabiliser leg. The nylock nuts are positioned loosely either side of the support bracket, but being “nylock” will not vibrate loose or tighten. The support brackets, each screwed into the underside of the van chassis, were cut from a length of right angle aluminium extrusion. One nylock nut, followed by the support bracket and the second nylock nut were fitted to the newly threaded bolt and roughly positioned before the full nut, the 19mm socket, the half nut and the securing 3mm pin were fitted (as detailed above) and securely locked to the bolt. For extra security, the base of the securing bracket on each assembly was smeared with Super Strength Araldite before screwing onto the underside of the van chassis . Stabiliser Leg Height Control Extension fitted to A'van
The photograph below shows the control extension as seen from the front of the A’van
Stabiliser Leg Height Control new location The photograph below shows a cordless drill fitted with an adapter having an 18mm socket for driving the leg up/down control. The original “Winding Handle” supplied with our Sportliner had a ½ inch socket at the end to suit the ½ inch across flats spigots on the stabiliser legs. (As Australian A’vans were originally manufactured under licence from Aliner USA, bolts etc. are imperial). The only suitable bolts I could find locally had 18mm (metric) hex heads. I cut off the ½ inch socket on the winding handle and fixed in its place (pinned and Araldited) an 18mm socket. The winding handle is now available as a standby should the cordless drill batteries run flat, but at least it will still be easier to use than in the original arrangement. Cordless Drill fitted with socket adaptor
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